Apparatus for decorating articles



Aug. 24, 1948. w. J. MILLER ETAL APPARATUS FOR DECORATING ARTICLES Filed Match 29 1941 INVENTORS ZV/LZ/mn J, MILLEK 8w P. 1? BY 0 eo RGe J. (wow/065k Patented Aug. 24, 1948 APPARATUS roa DECORATING ARTICLES William J. Miller, Swissvale, Pa., Lewis P. Reese, Scio, Ohio, and George J. Croninger, Swissvale, Pa.; said Miller and said Croninger assignors to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 29, 1941, Serial No. 385,892 16 Claims. (Cl. 91-12) This invention relates to new and improved methods and apparatus for decorating or marking articles, for instance, pottery ware, glass ware and the like. It has to do particularly with methods and apparatus for applying designs, trade marks, ornament of various description, bands, etc. of the same or contrasting colors to the aforesaid articles.

The objects of this invention are generally, to

provide simple and efficient method and apparatus for applying decoration to articles; to apply clean, sharply defined decoration; to provide ample thickness of material in the deposit forming the decoration or mark to prevent fading out; to avoid variations in the thickness of the deposit as between individual deposits and successive deposits; to provide a method and apparatus for forming, transporting and applying decoration to articles all as a part of one continuous procedure; to provide a method and apparatus whereby articles may be decorated or marked in continuous succession and lastly to conserve decorating material.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the preferred form of apparatus for carrying out our method.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective illustrating one form of decoration applying member for banding work.

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective illustrating another form of decoration applying member for.

multiple banding work.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation illustrating how the decorating material is applied to the decoration applying member.

Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating how multiple applications of decorating material may be applied simultaneously to the decoration applying member.

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of apparatus for cleaning the decorating applying member.

Fig. 8 is a detail in perspective showing another method of applying decoration to a decorating applying member.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of another form of decoration applying member for handing work.

Fig. 10 is a detail in perspective ilustrating still another form of decoration applying member for multiple banding and marking work.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, I is a frame on which the various parts of our improved apparatus are assembled. At opposite ends of the frame are journaled horizontal shafts 2 and 3,

shaft 2 having a flanged wheel or drum 5 keyed thereon for rotation therewith and shaft 3 having a flanged wheel 5 rotatably mounted thereon in alignment with wheel 4. These two wheels are of equal diameter and support an endless flexible decoration applying member 6 later described. Shaft 2 has a gear I keyed thereon driven by a pinion gear 8 secured to the shaft 9 of motor l0. Thus as the gear I is rotated, the decoration applying member 6 is caused to travel in an endless path over the surface'of the wheels 5 and 3.

The upper run of the endless member 8 is supported between wheels by a horizontally disposed trough II with flanges Na in order that the decoration applying member will track in a straight line in this zone without lateral displacement. The 'upper level of flanges Ila is below the top surface of the decoration applying member in order not to interfere with or obstruct the decoration applying operation.

The object is to deposit the decoration on the decoration appplying member at one point and by means of said member transport the decoration to a decorating position and there apply the decoration to the were all as a part of a continuous process with a short time interval between operations.

In order to illustrate the principles of operation, let it be assumed that the decoration applying member 6 takes the form shown in Fig. 3 wherein the member is adapted for applying a line or a stripe to the ware. This form of decoration applying member is composed of a flexible material such as rubber or the like or a fabric covered by resilient material. It has a concave trough or groove l2 formed in the upper surface thereof and the groove is flanked by downwardly sloping lands l3 forming sharp, clearly deflned marginal edges I4 along the juncture with the trough. The thickness of the deposit of coloring material is governed by the depth of the trough and the marginal edges [4 confine the decorating material as it is being applied to the ware, thereby forming clean straight lines or bands on the ware. Other forms of decoration applying member which may be used will be hereinafter described.

At the left hand side of the frame is arranged a tank l5 supported by brackets IS. The tank has an inlet pipe I! for conducting colored material thereto from a mixing tank (not shown) and has a, downwardly extending feed pipe l8 over the trough [2. The discharge end of the feed pipe is tapered as at l9, Fig.5, with the tapered face turned in the direction of travel of the decoration applying member} The decorating material is fed through a valve 20 in pipe H for controlling the rate of feed of the material and said material is discharged at the base of the groove I2 to prevent overlapping of margins.

While it is contemplated that substantially all of the paint or decorating material introduced into the groove l2 by the pipe l8 will be applied to the ware, the groove and the lands l3 may be cleaned of any residual material, if desired, by means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7. This apparatus may be located at the right end of the machine beyond the decoration applying station and may include a wiper 2| suspended from the frame of the machine by an adjustable support 22. In combination with the aforesaid wiper, there may be a suction tube 23 for returning excess material to the tank IS. The tube 23 is connected to a pipe 24 operativeiy connected to a suction pump 25 having a pipe 26 discharging into the tank. The wiper 2! may be constructed of any suitable material such as hard or soft rubber or other suitable composition.

The ware to be decorated is conveyed to the decorating station by means of a conveyor chain 21 having spaced rotatable grip chucks 28 attached thereto. The chain runsin a horizontal course 29 parallel to the upper run of the decoration applying member between sprockets 30 and 3i. These sprocket are mounted on shafts 32 and 33 respectively journaled in a vertical support 34 attached to the frame of the machine. A thrust plate 35 is provided to over-support the horizontal run of the chain.

The chain conveyor is driven by a sprocket 35 keyed on shaft 32 and the shaft is driven by rzneans of chain 38 and sprocket '39 keyed on shaft ,Fig. 2.

The chucks 23 are mounted on rotatable spindies 40, Fig. 2, and each spindle has a gear ll secured thereto. The gear II is adapted to mesh with a rack '42 in order to rotate the ware in contact with the decoration applying member. The rack is located alongside the decoration applying member as shown in Fig. 1 in opposition to the horizontal course of the chain 21. Each of the chucks 28 is provided with means for gripping the ware thereto and illustrated herein as flexible members 23a anchored to the base of the chuck and arranged in radial fashion with one end free and capable of being depressed as the ware is fitted to the chuck. The members exert pressure against the inside of the cup to therebyretain the same in position on the chuck. Other methods of ware retention may be employed such as vacuumizing the chuck.

The ratio of the various sprockets, gear and drive connections throughout the machine is such that the rolling cont-act established between the surface of the ware and the moving decoration applying member i non-slip in character. By moving the ware counter to the direction of travel of the decoration applying member. the time required to decorate each piece is considerably reduced. The spacing between chucks 28 and the speed of travel of the chain relative to the speed of travel of the decoration applying member is such that when a decorated piece of ware is lifted from the decoration applying member, the depleted zone of the trou h I2 is progressed at least to or beyond the point where the next piece of ware in success-ion engages the decoration applying member before the next piece of ware in succession reaches this point. Thus both the were conveyor and the decoration applying member are 4 in continuous motion bring-ing ware and decorating material to the decorating zone. Since there is no starting or stopping of conveyors to contend with, the interval between decorating operations can be accelerated considerably and the output of the machine increased.

It will be understood that the ware W may be placed on the chucks 28 at a level above the decorating position. This may be on the next floor above the machine. The unloading station may be located adjacent the filling station close to a ware conveyor. It will be understood also that the center to center spacing of shafts 32 and 33 may be varied to lengthen or shorten the horizontal course of the conveyor chain and for this purpose adjusting screws 32a are provided. Furthermore the rack 42 may be horizontally shifted on the frame I by loosening bolts 42a or it may be replaced by longer or shorter rack. Thus ware of various diameters may be accommodated on the machine making a few simple adjustments. It is desired that the ware be given not less than one complete revolution during the decorating operation. More than one complete revolution may possibly result in smearing, although in the case of bands or stripes where a particularly heavy deposit of material is desired, it may be advantageous to revolve the piece several times. We do not wish therefore to be limited to a single revolution; however, as mentioned before, any number of revolutions desired can be given the piece.

Fig. 4 illustrates another form of decoration applying member for multiple banding or striping work. The bands or stripes may be of the same or contrasting colors and may be continuous or interrupted in character. The parallel grooves or troughs 43 and H are spaced apart any desired distance and the upper marginal edges of each trough are sharply defined as in the case of member 6 shown in Fig. 3. If it is desired to produce an interrupted band or stripe, the grooves 43 and 44 may be blocked as at a at spaced intervals. If a single color is to be applied to the ware then a multiple nozzle illustrated by the siamesed pipes 46, Fig. 6, may be used to feed paint into the grooves. If the bands are to be of contrasting colors then the nozzles may be divided and each one individually connected to a separate paint tank filled with th proper color.

Thus far the description has had to do with the applying of bands or stripes to ware and it is believed that the method and the apparatus represents a marked improvement over other methods wherein a rotatable wheel or disk is employed. In a disk type machine the decorating material is lifted from the paint reservoir by the peripheral surface of the wheel and the influence of gravity and centrifugal force are apt to produce variations in the thickness of the deposit accumulated on the peripheral of the disk and transferred to the ware. This is responsible for variations in the depth of the color. If a disk type machine is speeded up or slowed down, the thickness of the decorating material transferred to the ware is also apt to vary due to an increase or a decrease in the speed of rotation of the banding wheel.

With the present method and apparatus, the thickness of the band or stripe is a constant factor for all speeds of machine. Furthermore, there is no variation in thickness of individual bands any danger of paint being indiscriminately thrown onto the surface of the ware.

This invention also comprehends the decorating'of ware with designs and other marks of individual character. In this connection, Fig. 9 illustrates a form of decoration applying member capable of handing as well as applying a figured decoration. It is between the banding rooves 41 where other forms of decoration, as illustrated by the star 50, may be disposed. The star 50 may be decalcomania or a color deposit freshly applied to the transfer member. It will be understood that any one or all of these decoration applying members may be treated in order to reduce adhesion of the paint thereto and insure the release of the paint to the ware. Also, the ware may be treated or sized in 'order to promote the adhesion of the decoration thereto,

particularly in the case of decalcomania. It has been found however in the case of applying bands or stripes to green ware, there is no need to treat the ware because the slightly moist condition of the ware appears to increase the affinity of the Paint therefor.

Any suitable apparatus may be utilized for applying flgures, marks and other forms of individual decoration to the surface of a transfer member. One form of apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 8 and said apparatus comprises a drum having a silk screen 52 Fig. 8 forming the periphery thereof and a squeegee 53 {or forcing paint or decorating material through open spaces in the screen'onto the surface of the decoration applying member. This member may take the form of the endless belt shown in Fig. 9 in which case the silk screen would be mounted alongside the tank ii of Fig. 1 and both devices would operate simultaneously to apply decorating material to the belt the tank feeding a continuous stream of material through nozzle i8, Fig. 5, into the grooves 41, Fig. 9 and the screen applying individual decoration 50, Fig. 9 in consecutive order to the space between the grooves.

It will be understood that individual decoration or marks of the character disclosed in Fig. 8 may be applied 'to an endless decorating member such as that shown at 54 wherein the grooves are omitted. The screen 52 in such event would displace the tank I5 which, however, could be arranged to supply the screen with decorating material by connecting an elbow to pipe l8 and directing the nozzle into the interior of the screen.

It is also within the scope of this invention to sired, paint could be fed into said depressions by means of the pipe l8 and a wiper comparable to that shown in Fig. 7 arranged between the paint applying station and the decorating station to clean of! residual paint adhering to the surface surrounding the depressions.

The speed of rotation of the silk screen 52 is preferably synchronized with the speed of travel of the decoration applying member and this is accomplished by rotating the drum by means of gears 53a and 53b, sprocket 53d and chain 53c. Chain 53c is driven by a sprocket (not shown) on shaft 2 or any other shaft in the machine which will provide the, necessary drive.

Fig. 10 illustrates another form of decoration applying member which may be used to apply bands or stripes or individual decoration such as from passing therethrough. A deposit of coloring material applied to the screen will lift readily therefrom due to the fact that the trough below the screen prevents the occurrence of a vacuumized condition. If this form ofdecoration applying member is to be used for banding work, it is preferred that the upper marginal edges of the troughbe sharp as shown in Fig. 3 and that the upper surface of the screen be on the level sli ht y below the tops of the edges in order to provide for the necessary thickness of the deposit. If decoration such as that shown in Fig. 8 is to be applied, the decoration applying member may be constructed with the upper surface of the screen level with the upper edges of the groove.

Broadly speaking, the present invention con- ,templates a method of applying decoration to ware of the class described wherein a, freshly formed deposit of material representing the decoration is conveyed to and immediately applied to the ware. In the case of bands or stripes a continuous stream of material-is carried from the feed pipe to the ware and the depth or thickness of the stream is stable due to the fact that it is carried in a horizontal rectilinear path. Therefore, there is no variation in the thickness of the deposit because it is preferred to fill the banding groove to the brim. Moreover, various other forms of decoration such as individual marks or designs may be produced in a continuous stream and conveyed directly to the decorating zone and applied to the ware and this form of decoration may be applied either individually or in conjunction with bands or stripes. Also this form of decoration may merely be deposited on the surface of the transfer medium or it may be deposited in depressions in the transfer medium. In all cases, it is preferred to regulate the rate of feed of decorating material to the endless transfer medium to the speed of travel thereof. Whether it be a continuous stream of paint or a series of individual decorations.

Since the material of which the decoration is composed may vary with the type or character of decoration we therefore do not limit ourselves to any particular decorating composition. For instance, in the case of bands or stripes the material may be paint of the same or contrasting colors and composed of ceramic or non-ceramic material. It may be a liquid composition in order that it may flow readily into the groove or grooves. In the case of individual decorations such as that shown in Fig. 8, the material may be viscous so that the deposit, if made on the surface of the endless applying member will stand up and not tend to run during transit to the decorating position. The decorating material may be colored with organic or inorganic pigments or diesl Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In apparatus for applying decoration to ber. means' for feedinga continuous stream of ing continuous motion in said zone, means for applying decorating material to the groove of the belt in a continuous stream, means for synchronizing the movement of the ware conveyor and belt and means for removing residual material from the belt groove.

8. A device for use in applying decoration to pottery ware comprising an endless flexible memher having an endless paint receiving groove in the surface thereof for applying bands to articles and having another surface for the reception of decoration to be applied to ware.

4. In apparatus for bending articles of the class described, a rotatable article holder for receiving and supporting articles to be handed, a movably mounted grooved banding member having a rectilinear portion lying in a horizontal plane. means for feeding paint into the groove in said rectilinear portion of the grooved member, the rate of travel oi the banding member relative to the feeding means being such that the groove is filled to capacity at the feeding point,

' 7. In combination with apparatus for advancing a line of pottery ware along a path wherein decoration is applied to the articles of pottery, a paint nozzle through which paint may be fed, means for supplying paint to said nozzle, and an endless belt having a groove therein supported so as to provide a horizontal portion extending between the nozzle and the were decorating zone to thereby conduct the paint deposited in the groove by the nozzle in a stream of uniform depth to the decorating zone and means for moving the apparatus for advancing the articles of pottery and the belt relative to one another whilst paint is being applied to successive articles moving in said path.

8. In combination, a pair of conveyors having vertically spaced, oppositely disposed courses running for a predetermined distance in parallelism in opposite directions, one conveyor-for moving a succession of articles oi the class described relative to and in rolling contact with the other conveyor whilst decorating material is applied thereto, the other conveyor for transporting decorating material in a straight line tangent to the circumference of the ware from a point of deposit thereon to the articles and applying said material thereto. driving means for continuously moving said conveyors relative to one another, and means for continuously feeding decorating material to the second named running counter to one another in parallelism a predetermined distance, one conveyor for moving. a succession of articles of the class described relative to and in rolling contact with the other conveyor whilst decorating material is applied to the articles, the other conveyor for transporting plural streams of decorating material on the level from a point of deposit thereon to the articles and applying the same thereto, driving means for continuously moving the conveyors relative to one another, and means for continuously feeding plural streams of decorations to the second named conveyor from above.

10. In combination. a pair or conveyors having vertically spaced, oppositely disposed courses, running counter to one another in parallelism for a predetermined distance, one conveyor for moving a succession of articles of the class described relative to and in rolling contact with the other conveyor whilst decorating material is applied thereto, the other conveyor for transporting a stream of decorating material on the level in a straight line. tangent to the circumference of the articles from a point of deposit thereon to the articles and applying the same to said articles, driving means for continuously moving said conveyors relative to one another. means for imparting a predetermined amount of rotation to each article whilst moving relative to and in contact with the second named conveyor, and means for continuously feeding decorating material to the second named conveyor from above.

11. In combination, a pair of conveyors having vertically spaced, oppositely disposed courses running counter to one another for a predetermined distance in parallelism, the upper con veyor for moving a succession of articles of the class described relative to and in rolling contact with the other conveyor whilst decorating material is applied to said articles, the other conveyor for transporting a stream of decorating material on the level from a point of deposit thereon to the articles and applying the material thereto, means for imparting a predetermined amount of rotation to the articles when moving relative to and in contact with the ccand conveyor, driving means for continuously moving said conveyors at relative speeds of travel,

" precluding slippage between the articles and sec- 0nd named conveyor, and means for depositing decorating material in a continuous stream on the second namedconveyor from above.

12, In combination, a pair of conveyors having vertically spaced, oppositely disposed courses running for a predetermined distance in paral-' leiism in opposite directions, one conveyor for moving said conveyors relative to one another and means for feeding a continuous stream of decorating material to the second named conveyor from above.

13. In combination, a pair of conveyors having vertically spaced. oppositely disposed courses runningfor a predetermined distance in parallelism in opposite directions, one conveyor for moving a succession of articles of the class described relative to the other conveyor whilst decorating madecorating material continuously into said terial is applied to said articles, the other conveyor for transporting decorating material on the level from a point of deposit thereon to said articles and applying said material thereto, said second named conveyor having a groove therein for receiving said decorating material, driving means for continuously moving said conveyors relative to one another and means for feeding groove from above. 4

14. In combination, a pair ot'conveyors having vertically spaced, oppositely disposed courses running for a predetermined distance in parallelism in opposite directions, one conveyor for moving a succession or articles of the class described relative to the other conveyor whilst decorating material is applied to said articles, the other con veyor ior transporting on the level a stream or decorating material tothe article and having an upwardly facing groove therein for receiving said material of diminishing depth at the marginal edges, means for continuously driving said conveyors and means for feeding a continuous stream of material into the groove from above.

15. In combination, a pair-oi conveyors, having vertically spaced, oppositely disposed courses running for a predetermined distance in parallelism in opposite directions, the upper conveyor for moving a succession of articles of the class described relative to and in rolling contact with the a other conveyor whilst liquid banding material is applied thereto, the other conveyor for transporting a stream of liquid banding material on the level from a point of deposit to the articles and applying the material to said articles, said second named conveyor having a paint receiving groove extending lengthwise thereof, means for driving said conveyors continuously in opposite directions, a source of paint supply and a nozzle in supplied 10 communication therewith for feeding paint continuously into said groove from above.

18. Apparatus ior decorating potteryware and the like comprising. a support for rotatably carrying ware in a decorating zone, a decorating member formed with a groove therein and a screen spaced above the bottom or said groove having a mesh of such fineness as to preclude the passage of decorating material therethrough into the 10 groove, thereby providing an air space below the screen, means for depositing decorating material on top of the screen and means for moving said support and member relative to one another to rotatably contact the ware with decorating ma- 15 terial carried by the screen.

J. MILLER. GEORGE J. CRONINGER. LEWIS P. REESE.

a REFFJRENGES CITED The following references are of record in the iile 01 this patent: i a

. UNITED STATES PATENTS 25 Number Name Date 414,568 Paine Nov. 5, 1889 428,420 Swaine Apr. 22, 1890 557,483 Schneidawind Mar. 31, 1896 988,335 Hal-beck Apr. 4, 1911 1,288,891 Stommel June 11, 1918 1,713,750 Dow May 21, 1929 1,795,582 Van Haitern Mar. 10, 1932 2,027,102 Hommei Jan. 7. 1936 2,079,300 Nunnikhoven May 4, 1937 2,107,491 McQuiston Feb. 8, 1938 2,134,739 Schutz Nov. 1, 1938 2,167,589 Schutz July 25, 1939 2,171,742 Dombre Sept. 5, 1939 2,180,185 Bartholomew Nov. 14. 1989 

